Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India has “boarded the Reform Express”, pointing to a wide range of policy changes carried out during 2025 across taxation, labour, trade, energy, education
and rural employment.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the reforms added momentum to India’s growth journey and would support the goal of building a Viksit Bharat.
“India has boarded the Reform Express! 2025 witnessed pathbreaking reforms across various sectors which have added momentum to our growth journey. They will also enhance our efforts to build a Viksit Bharat,” PM Modi wrote.
India has boarded the Reform Express!
2025 witnessed pathbreaking reforms across various sectors which have added momentum to our growth journey. They will also enhance our efforts to build a Viksit Bharat.
Shared a few thoughts on @LinkedInhttps://t.co/M30VgAAAR1
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2025
In a longer post on LinkedIn, PM Modi described 2025 as a year when reforms were pursued as a continuous national mission.
“2025 will be remembered as a year for India when it focused on reforms as a continuous national mission, building on the ground covered over the past 11 years. We modernised institutions, simplified governance, and strengthened the foundations for long-term, inclusive growth,” he noted.
PM Modi Lays Out Major Reforms
Among the key changes highlighted was a major overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax. A simplified two-slab GST structure of 5 per cent and 18 per cent was implemented to reduce disputes and improve compliance. The move eased the burden on households, MSMEs, farmers and labour-intensive sectors, and helped boost festive season demand.
The government also announced significant relief for the middle class, with no income tax for individuals earning up to Rs 12 lakh annually. The Income Tax Act of 1961 was replaced with the Income Tax Act, 2025.
To support small and medium businesses, the definition of small companies was expanded to include firms with turnovers up to Rs 100 crore, reducing compliance costs.
In the insurance sector, 100 per cent foreign direct investment was allowed, with the aim of improving insurance penetration, competition and service quality. In capital markets, the Securities Market Code Bill was introduced to strengthen investor protection, improve governance and reduce compliance burdens.
The government also pushed reforms in the maritime and blue economy sectors by passing five new laws during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, replacing outdated Acts and reducing logistics costs.
Under the Jan Vishwas initiative, 71 outdated laws were repealed to end unnecessary criminalisation. Measures to improve ease of doing business included revoking or suspending several Quality Control Orders to lower costs and boost exports.
Labour reforms saw 29 laws merged into four labour codes to balance worker protection with business needs, expand social security coverage and encourage female workforce participation.
On the global front, India signed trade agreements with New Zealand, Oman and Britain, and operationalised an FTA with the European Free Trade Association.
In energy, the SHANTI Act was introduced to support safe and responsible expansion of nuclear energy, open doors for private participation and meet future clean energy needs. Rural employment guarantees were increased from 100 to 125 days under a new framework, while education reforms proposed a single higher education regulator to replace multiple bodies.
